The Lower Hall at Windham Town Hall

There was a time when the Lower Hall, at the Windham Town Hall. was used for social gatherings rather than town office space. This historic building is in need of repair and there may be a proposed warrant article in this years town budget. Before the advent of auditoriums at the Windham schools, all local events and activities took place at the Town Hall. The photograph above was taken in during the 200th Celebration of the founding of Windham in 1942. Over 400 people enjoyed a chicken dinner in the Lower Hall. This tradition of Town Hall events went back into the nineteenth century. The Derry News article covered an event in the lower hall from February 18, 1881 relating that the Annual Festival took place there: “The Annual Festival was held this year in the lower hall, on Wednesday and Friday evenings, of last week, and was a most enjoyable occasion, and a complete success, netting the Society about $130. The attendance on the first evening was not far from two hundred and fifty, the second night about one hundred. Wednesday even persons were present from all the adjoining towns, and thirty or more from Lowell, Mass. Confectionary, ice cream and button hole bouquets, were for sale, also fancy articles. A beautiful supper was served in the lower hall.” The Grange used to hold their meeting in the Upper Hall and the room that is now a kitchen, was at one time,  the location of the Nesmith Library.